Jakob had been staying in Greensea city for weeks. He watched how easily it was for the locals and the residents to understand the benefits that Aured City brings. Not all of the locals were happy that outsiders were meddling with their lives. That was easily fixed by a visit to their homes. A few scowls and furniture broken was all that it took for them to zip their mouths.
Most could see the blatant change among them that it was hard for them to refuse. Not to mention that the recent advancements of Aured had proved effective against the belua that were threatening the lives of the locals.
The Authorities of Aured City, and the Leaders were satisfied with their investment. Not to mention that next to the city, right on the side of a small mountain, there was an untamed deposit of iron ores and aluminum that could be used as interest. Though they have foundries, it was better that they use it as collateral for Aured. It became an incentive that allowed Aured to care for the city. Not only that they would be living under the protecting of Aured. They would open more opportunities that they could never have before.
Jakob couldn't help but feel the strange scenery. The sight of hopelessness seems like a distant dream. He hated it. He hated how everything was seemingly being put into place. As if the right puzzle piece was just there along all the time and it wasn't placed in time.
All that Jakob have was regrets. Seething at the fact that all that it was need for Aured to change direction was a person who have eyes in the sky. Even if he wasn't there when the upcoming star of Aured was in trouble. Even if he didn't broke the skinners. As long as the one who had eyes in the sky was alive. Aured could have a better time.
Slowly, but surely he was becoming a bystander to a future he didn't know. Old Jakob trapped in a shell of a young man. Forced to watch a future that could have better. Forced to think what could have done better.
Jakob knew that inaction was causing him to becoming Jak. That delusional fool who only thought of what he should for his masters. A part of him, the younger one, the arrogant one, the better one, and the one who had something more other than watch a few kids who he saw grow up and die.
Just a fool yearning for something he doesn't know.
Sitting on top of the sea barrier. Looking at the rocket that they have installed and isolated far from the city. There was an asphalt road leading to the rocket boosters. Next to the asphalt road were the Crawler and the facilities deployed by Aured to defend the coast and the land behind them. Ever since the appearance of the belua and the belumans. It had been decided that no shelter lives separately unless they are protected by exterior walls that prevents entry. This was to make sure that if any civilian are attacked. The rest of the civilians could either take arms or use said civilian that was being attacked as bait for others to survive. It was a dastardly principle but it worked.
Other than the box-like shelters along the Asphalt road. Airships, fliers, and troops from Aured were obsessed by the strange sea. After all, they've been living inside concrete and steel cities and marshlands that are hostile. They haven't seen something as vast and beautiful as a clear green sea with strange microorganisms that makes it glow in the night. Not to mention that to those who came from Aured, the seafood were lovely, much better than the synthetic food that they've been eating for years. This place was like a heaven compared to Aured.
Most of the time the Outriders wouldn't even able to relax. And yet here they are happily lazing, hoping to meet something new other than constant fear for their lives. Not that they'd fear something in this city. Not when the Etherians were massacring every single belua and mutant they can find ten miles away from the city.
Jakob was not tasked to kill. He was tasked to sit in the city and wait for further instructions. At the moment he was able to sit away from all the rabble because Yuki had done something. But without action he began thinking all alone. Without anything he started to feel the heavy weight of what he had done in the other past. The regrets that were filling in. He could take it. But as they flood in his heart harder than ever.
Jakob found himself carrying a snub nose revolver with two bullets on it. He found himself staring at the barrel of this revolver. He bought it from one of the locals in exchange for credits. When he have time he found himself looking on the barrel of the gun.
All of this just because he had seen her again. He didn't feel the weight but now he felt the weight wrapped around his arms. It was heavy. So heavy that he felt like everything just seem so heavy. As days passes he found himself feeling this soul-crushing weight.
The sea barrier he was sitting on was isolated. In a few seconds, there would be a loud noise with the testing of a booster. Not even the sound of a pistol could be compared to that noise. Jakob found himself staring at the barrel and then to the rocket boosters. From his comms, he could hear the countdown of the operators started testing the ignition of their rockets.
Ten. He held the grip of the pistol. Eight. He pointed it on the right side of his head. Four. His finger was in the trigger. Two. His finger was squeezing the trigger. One. He heard someone shout, "What the fuck are you doing you fool!" and then a loud sound resounded alongside the rocket booster.
Then it was just cold.